E6600 and P5WDH overclock

[Jibboom]

Okay, I'd like some help/comments on my overclock, I don't seem to be able to get it as high as I'd like.

C2D E6600 with Tuniq Tower
Asus P5WDH Deluxe
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4

Ram: 5-5-5-15 @ 2.1v
vMCH: 1.55v
vFSB: 1.40v
vCore: 1.400v (probably doesn't need to be this high, i'll reduce to lowest stable when finished OC)

Frequency is currently at 333x9, giving speed of ~3Ghz, 4:5 ratio giving ram speed 833mhz. This runs stable at temps of ~40ºC at idle, 57ºC at ITAT full load, 52ºc orthos load - using CoreTemp to monitor.

The problem is when I try to get it much higher than this, for example I was trying to get an overclock of 3.2Ghz (fairly attainable with an E6600 I thought), but the system won't post and I have to set back to lower clock. This is using freq of 355*9 - ram can either be set at 710 with 1:1 ratio or 888 with 4:5 ratio i'm not sure which would be best.

Is there something I can try that might make it work at higher clock speeds? I'm unsure if it's processor, motherboard or ram limiting at the moment.

 

[gerwen]

Have you tried jumping up to 401FSB? I hear that the asus boards can have a tough time with the mid to high 300's, but the problem relaxes at 401. Something to do with the memory strap.

**edit** this suggestion may only apply to only the 965 chipset boards. I just noticed yours was a 975. From what i hear the 975's don't overclock quite as well as the 965's

 

[MTDEW]

Try these settings as a start.

performance mode - Turbo
PCI Express Frequebcy - 101
PCI clock Sync Mode - 33.33MHz

FSB Termination Volatge - 1.50v
MCH Chipset Voltage - 1.55v
ICH Chipset Voltage - 1.05

USB function - (whatever you use)
Legacy USB support - Disabled
USB 2.0 Controller - Enabled

Modify Ratio Support - Disabled
Microcode Updation - Enabled
MAx CPUID Value Limit - Disabled
Execute Disable Function - Disabled
Enhance C1 Control - Disabled
CPU Internal Thermal Control - Disabled
Intel SpeedStep tech. - Disabled

Configure DRAM timing by SPD - Enabled (start with it enabled, them manually set later if needed)
Hyper Path 3 - Disabled
DRAM Throttling Threshold - Disabled

PEG Buffer length - Long (or auto)
Link Latency - Slow (or auto)
Peg Root Control - Enabled
PEG Link Mode - Normal
Slot Power - Normal

AI Quiet - Disabled
CPU Fan speed - Ignore (if using aftermaket cooler)
CPU Q-Fan Control - Disabled
Chassis Fan1 Speeed - Ignored
Chassis Fan2 Speed - Ignored
Chassis Q-Fan Control - Disabled
Power fan1 Speed - Ignored
Power fan2 Speed - Ignored
PWR Q-Fan Control - Disabled

Cpu and mem voltages and settings are going to be specific to your hardware , so those settings arent listed.

 

[Jibboom]

Yeah, I already have set most of those options but I'll have a look through and see if there's anything else there I can change. I'll try the 401fsb setting too - settings over 333 seemed to be causing what I think is memory problems but 401 might solve the timing issues if my processor is able to run stable at that speed. I can't try anything at the moment though because I'm in work, so any other suggestions are still welcome.

 

[Noubourne]

I don't think you're going to hit the strap at 355. More like 390+ (but I could be wrong).

It might help if you took some variables out of the equation. Just cranking everything up as high as you can isn't going to teach you anything really. How high does your FSB go with your CPU/RAM at stock? You should know that. If you knew 355 was stable with CPU and RAM at near-stock speeds, then you could easily see that one of those two were the problem, and start increasing the voltage or memory timings or whatever.

The key to isolating any stability problem is taking out the other variables that could lead to instability, so that you are more sure of which component is causing the bottleneck. Once you know that, you can start using the different techniques available to tweak that component into giving you what you want.

More than anything else, overclocking is very, very time consuming. My advice is to SLOW DOWN, back up and start following some methodology that will allow you to actually locate the problem first. Then you can start getting some really good advice about how to fix it.

 

[Jibboom]

Yes I have been trying incremental steps, noubourne, that was just an example. I *think* the problem may lie with the ram not liking increased speeds, though it won't work at (again, 355*9 example) 710 using 1:1 ratio. I'll be looking into it further when I get back home, for now I was just looking for ideas.

 

[lopri]

HyperPath 3 is known to be the option for 800/1066 straps on P5W-DH. Disabling it will allow 1066 strap, and under 1066 strap 4:5 (FSB:RAM) ratio is not always successful. You will need a very good set of memory/chipset as well as extra voltages. Lower the multiplier to x8, disable HyperPath 3, and set memory 1:1 (DDR2-800 after selecting 400FSB) and try booting. It'll tell you at least whether your board is capable of 400FSB, which I think shouldn't be a problem with P5W-DH.